<i>This story contains corrected information.</i>
<p class="italic font120">This story contains corrected information.</p><p>"That a girl,” one of Molly Johnson's classmates yelled as she swung at the man, who hit his knees and then pulled off his protective helmet.</p><p>Johnson is part of an enrichment class at Southside High School for female self defense.</p><p>The man was Rape Aggression Defense instructor Rodney Couch, an Etowah County sheriff's deputy and the only male certified in Etowah County to teach the course.</p><p>Couch was wearing plenty of padded protection as some of the students in the class practiced moves that teach women how to get away from an aggressor.</p><p>The instructor for the enrichment class at Southside High is Rachael Couch, Rodney's wife. She also is an English teacher at the school.</p><p>Couch and Gadsden Police Officer Sylvia Flick, also a RAD certified instructor, have taught the class at Southside during this semester.</p><p>Johnson, a senior, is moving to Atlanta after graduation and already was confident.</p><p>“It makes me even more self confident,” she said. “Now I know how to not make myself a victim in the first place.”</p><p>When the students — all girls — were not applying the techniques they learned, they were using classroom instruction to learn about self defense.</p><p>Couch took several hits during a class this week, either strikes in the neck, groin or chest.</p><p>“As soon as you knock him down, run to get away,” Flick told one of the girls.</p><p>Each girl wears a protective helmet, knee and elbow pads and boxing-style gloves.</p><p>Couch has taught the course for several years and with an almost 16-year-old daughter, it hits closer to home now.</p><p>He said fathers, brothers and husbands often tell girls or women, “If anybody ever hurts you, let me know and I'll take care of it for you.”</p><p>Couch said that is one of the most negative things a girl can hear.</p><p>“It says to them, 'You have to be a victim,'” he said. “I want to get these girls to where they're not a victim and to know they can take care of themselves.”</p><p>He told the girls it's important to use their voices, and stressed that it doesn't matter how large or small someone is, she can protect herself using these methods.</p><p>“Just remember in your brain what you can do,” he said. “You are small, but strong.”</p><p>The class gave Lacee Anderson, one of the smallest girls in the class, a sense of confidence.</p><p>“It's nice knowing I could take care of myself if I had to,” she said.</p><p>Mahsa Shabani took Couch to the floor with one strike.</p><p>“I loved the class,” the junior said. “I'm pretty sure I could take care of myself. I don't feel small.”</p><p>Shelby Davis, a junior, said she wishes she had known about these techniques and had taken the class earlier, possibly in middle school.</p><p>“I always felt weak,” she said. “Now I don't.”</p><p>Rachel Elkins, a sophomore, said the class has brought out a new confidence in her.</p><p>“I feel more secure,” she said.</p><p>Junior Erin Harrell said she has always been picked on for being short.</p><p>“As long as I know I can do it, I feel much more confident,” she said.</p><p>Sydney Currier said she believes she now can do a better job of taking care of herself.</p><p>“I makes me feel like I can be independent,” she said.</p><p>Junior Hannah Phillips said she's never been in a fight or attacked.</p><p>“Now I'd have a chance to defend myself,” she said. “I'm more confident knowing I can go out there and defend myself.”</p><p>Rachael Couch said a big part of the study portion of the class was discussing awareness of the dangers facing women.</p><p>“We have gone over things like how to protect yourself in a parking lot and how to apply real situations,” she said.</p><p>Rodney Couch said the class is 10 percent self-defense and 90 percent situation awareness and “being smart enough to change the situation.”</p><p>After the practical application portion of the class, he said, students now know they have it in them to protect themselves.</p><p>“You can't quit,” he said about an attack. “When you quit, you lose.”</p><p>Couch said the program is aptly named. “It's the best I could give you as far as enrichment that will last you the rest of your life,” he said.</p><p>Flick told the students the class is a lifelong commitment to survival.</p><p>“It is something you can use 15 to 20 years from now,” she said.</p><p>There are women in their 40s, 50s and 60s who have never had the opportunity to learn how to fight off an aggressor.</p><p>Couch said he has heard through the years from at least two students who took the course and used the techniques, and it made a life or death difference.</p><p>The instructors, who have volunteered their time, say comments from students like junior Ashley Lewallen sum up why they continue to teach the class.</p><p>“It makes you feel empowered and confident,” Lewallen said.</p>
<p class="italic font120">This story contains corrected information.</p>